In a rare show of unanimity, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly members on Wednesday expressed unequivocal concern over absence of senior officers in the House during the proceedings. During the proceedings, members across parties frowned upon the absence of senior officers from the gallery, prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to flag the issue to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The issue was raised by National Conference legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi towards the end of the Question Hour, drawing support from members across both treasury and opposition benches, who rose from their seats in protest. The Speaker assured the protesting members that the House has taken note of their concerns, stressing that it is imperative for the officers concerned to be present whenever questions related to their departments were taken up.
“It is neither reasonable nor feasible for the entire Secretariat to be present here, given space constraints. However, the chief minister must ensure that the officers concerned are present when such questions are taken up, and that they take proper notes and address members’ concerns to their satisfaction,” Rather said.
Gurezi said he has been a member of the House for 22 years but has never seen it being ignored in this manner, pointing to empty chairs in the officers’ gallery. “Earlier, the chief secretary and commissioner secretaries would attend proceedings, respecting the dignity of the House. Today, however, officials tend to avoid attending,” he said, urging the chief minister to take action against officers who fail to appear.
He said this House is supreme and all officials, irrespective of their position, must be accountable and should attend the House. BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma said the absence of officers was not the correct practice. “I believe the chief minister will take cognisance of this. From your (Speaker’s) side as well, a formal notice should be issued to the chief secretary, seeking an explanation,” he said. Sharma said administrative secretary of any department with listed business must be present in the House, adding that proceedings should be deferred or dropped if the officer concerned is absent.
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